Essential Seleccion

A Group H interview with the Atletico Madrid midfielder as Colombia return to the World Cup after eight years away. Santos says last year’s run to the Copa America final gave the squad confidence and taught them to play every game as a final. She contrasts her club role, deeper and more complete but with fewer attacking opportunities, with the freedom she is given for Colombia to create and to slow games down. Having played in 2015 as a 19-year-old, she returns with more experience and maturity, and says missing both 2019 and the Olympics hurt because the squad could have made history. She wants Colombians to see a team that never gives up.